2. What are you reading right now? I am currently re-reading William Greider’s Secrets of the Temple, a book about the Federal Reserve System. On the top of my reading stack are two books on Second Life.

3. Describe ACRL in three words: Forward looking, responsive.

4. Why did you join ACRL? ACRL provides tangible, relevant and focused resources such as guidelines/standards, tools and publications specific to the profession, and the conferences are a showcase for new approaches and ideas. Through its committee structure ACRL promotes inquiry into evolving issues thus simultaneously sustaining a network of interested professionals. As a professional association, ACRL promotes discussion of opportunities and possibilities.

5. What do you value about academic or research librarianship? As an academic librarian, I have the opportunity to be a catalyst for critical thinking and to “teach people how to fish” as well as “give them a fish” when appropriate. I can help people discover answers, a skill which will benefit them for life.

6. In your own words: At my very core, I am a snoop. My first word had to have been “why”? So I get paid to do what makes me very happy and I know that if I don’t know how to find what I am after, I am usually surrounded by other librarians who can help. It is an added bonus when I see that look in the eyes of those coming to me for assistance when I help them find just the type of information they seek, or information they weren’t aware of. Being a librarian means I have a key that opens the door to knowledge and I can pass this key on infinitely through each person I assist.

Editor’s Note: Are you an ACRL member? Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Contact Mary Jane Petrowski at mpetrowski@ala.org for more information.